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The holiday season is in full swing and for many of us that equates to parties, gatherings and travel. While many are apt to leave home and visit others, there may be a select group of us who consider "nesting" to be quite the option during the holidays. If you're pregnant/expecting, recently given birth or simply love the idea of home decor and more, then this prize is for you!

One of my best friends just found out she's pregnant, and enlisted
me in helping her find maternity clothes on the cheap. It's
overwhelming when you stop and think about all the stuff you need
for pregnancy, and then for the baby! Luckily, there are ways
you can save money on pretty much everything, and maternity clothes
are no exception. Here's how we saved big bucks on maternity
clothes.

At MTV's VMAs last Sunday, Beyonce slyly announced her pregnancy by unbuttoning her jacket and rubbing her noticeably enlarged belly. Given that Beyonce and husband Jay-z ranked number two on Forbe's list of World's Highest Paid Celebrity Couples, they won't be worrying about hand-me-downs or diaper deals for their progeny.

For those of us in the real world, however, pregnancy can be a financial strain even while being a joyful event. As such, we've dug into the Blog & Save archives to bring you expert advice on how to save money during your pregnancy.

In my world, "Labor Day" is when mothers get ready to deliver their own tiny little miracles. It's a day filled with pain, joy, and laughter (in that order). Very similar to running a marathon or competing in some Olympic event.

Just like the planning and strategizing involved in packing for the big game, the same process happens when packing for the big day. You walk around contemplating about things that you think you need and things that you really don't.

Pregnancy could probably be the single most costly thing during your life, but
with a little tweaking here and there, it can be cost effective and at
times completely free. With two pregnancies under my belt, I have
learned a thing or two about taking something you need and making it
budget-friendly.

These are ten things that not only saved my budget, but made me a happy pregnant Momma:

Ahh... the joys of pregnancy. Expanding waistlines, swollen body parts, stretchmarks, nausea and not being able to see your own feet. I remember being pregnant in the hot summer of 2000 wondering why the heck most maternity clothing was so boring and unflattering.

Back then, there were 2 major lines, Mimi Maternity and A Pea In A Pod. I rather liked the latter's style, but it was so expensive. I bought a dress from them and it was about $150! Yeah, I know--muy expensivo. But, it was worth it. I wore that dress at least 20 times during the summer, to weddings, parties, whatever, you name it. Black jersey with stretch was the way to go! Believe me, you need the stretch fabric.

Store Shopping Secrets

Bonton.com seems to constantly have sales, both site-wide and across different departments. If something you like is still at its original price, chances are it will soon be on "sale" and then on "clearance." And sometimes Bon-Ton even offers sales on the clearance stuff! So clearance isn't even clearance, because there's a clearance on clearance...Is that clear? No? here's the bottom line: Unless you'll be heartbroken without said item or you're worried they'll run out of your size, I'd say wait for discount as it will likely be significant.

Like many department stores, many of the best prices can be found in the post-holiday season when clearance is the rule. If you have any particularly picky people to shop for, you could actually get more bang for your buck by buying them a Herberger's gift card that they can use for a mini shopping spree after Christmas.

The Younkers website has a unique feature that will help you plan ahead and design your home and new furniture before carrying a single sofa over your threshold. Look for the Virtual Room Planner. Put in your room’s dimensions into the planner and design a bird’s eye blueprint of your living room, bedroom, or dining room. You can add furniture of various sizes and try several different styles. Once you have a virtual design you like, print it out and bring it into a Younkers retail store. You’ll know the exact type and shape of furniture you need.

Boston Store has a program called, "Your Rewards." The program is actually just a credit card but when you use it you get a $20 reward card for every $200 you spend which can be stacked with other reward cards. The program also sends out special coupons for card holders including a special birthday offer. There is an opportunity to become an "elite" Your Rewards member after a year and then you get even more amazing-awesome coupons, offers and benefits.

Join their mailing list for exclusive sales and a special welcome offer.